Key Takeaway:
Your annual Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), commonly known as road tax, depends primarily on when your car was first registered, its CO₂ emissions (or engine size for pre-2001 vehicles), fuel type, and—if valued over £40,000 when new—the luxury car supplement.
Since 1 April 2025, all petrol, diesel, hybrid, and electric cars pay VED according to these rules.
1. Cars Registered on or After 1 April 2025 (First Licence Rates)
Every new car must pay its first 12 months’ VED up front. From April 2025, both conventional and zero-emission cars follow the same CO₂-based scale:
| CO₂ Emissions (g/km) | Petrol/Diesel/AF/EV | Diesel non-RDE2* |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | £10 | £10 |
| 1–50 | £110 | £130 |
| 51–75 | £130 | £270 |
| 76–90 | £270 | £350 |
| 91–100 | £350 | £390 |
| 101–110 | £390 | £440 |
| 111–130 | £440 | £540 |
| 131–150 | £540 | £1,360 |
| 151–170 | £1,360 | £2,190 |
| 171–190 | £2,190 | £3,300 |
| 191–225 | £3,300 | £4,680 |
| 226–255 | £4,680 | £5,490 |
| Over 255 | £5,490 | £5,490 |
*Diesel cars that do not meet the Real Driving Emissions 2 (RDE2) standard pay the higher “Diesel non-RDE2” rate.
2. Cars Registered on or After 1 April 2017 (Standard Rates from Second Year Onward)
From the second year of ownership, all cars first registered on or after 1 April 2017 pay a flat annual VED, regardless of emissions:
| Payment Method | Petrol/Diesel/AF/EV |
|---|---|
| Single 12-month payment | £195 |
| Single 12-month by Direct Debit | £195 |
| 12 monthly instalments by Direct Debit | £204.75 |
| Single 6-month payment | £107.25 |
| Single 6-month by Direct Debit | £102.38 |
Vehicles with an original list price over £40,000 pay an additional £425 supplement per year for five years (starting from the second licence).
3. Cars Registered Between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 (CO₂ Bands A–M)
For vehicles in this period, VED is based on CO₂ bands. From April 2025, the zero-emission and low-emission cars in Band A now pay £20 annually rather than being exempt.
| Band | CO₂ (g/km) | Annual VED |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to 100 | £20 |
| B | 101–110 | £20 |
| C | 111–120 | £35 |
| D | 121–130 | £165 |
| E | 131–140 | £195 |
| F | 141–150 | £215 |
| G | 151–165 | £265 |
| H | 166–175 | £315 |
| I | 176–185 | £345 |
| J | 186–200 | £395 |
| K* | 201–225 | £430 |
| L | 226–255 | £735 |
| M | Over 255 | £760 |
*Band K includes very high-emitting cars registered before 23 March 2006.
All alternative-fuel vehicles (hybrids, LPG, biofuel) receive a £10 discount in each band.
4. Cars Registered Before 1 March 2001 (Engine-Size Bands)
Pre-2001 private vehicles and light goods vehicles pay VED based solely on engine capacity:
| Engine Size | 12-Month VED | 6-Month VED |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1,549 cc | £220 | £121 |
| > 1,549 cc | £360 | £198 |
Direct Debit is available but increases the total cost (e.g. £378 over 12 instalments for > 1,549 cc).
5. How to Check Your Exact Rate
- Note your car’s first registration date (V5C logbook).
- Find its CO₂ emissions (vehicle spec or GOV.UK).
- Refer to the appropriate table above.
- If your car’s original list price exceeded £40,000, add the £425 supplement where applicable.
You can also check online via GOV.UK’s “Check vehicle tax” service using your registration number.
6. Paying and Penalties
- Payment options: Annual, 6-monthly, or monthly Direct Debit (additional fees apply for instalments).
- Requirements: Valid MOT (if over 3 years old) and insurance must be in place and verified electronically.
- Driving untaxed: Fines start at £100; can increase to £1,000 and incur vehicle clamping or impoundment.
In Summary:
Road tax in the UK is no longer free for electric cars and now follows the same CO₂-based framework introduced in April 2025. By knowing your car’s registration date, CO₂ emissions (or engine size), and list price, you can determine exactly how much VED you’ll owe each year. Always double-check on GOV.UK for the most up-to-date rates before payment.
